Sportsnet announce 2013 MLS regular season broadcast schedule

VANCOUVER, BC - Sportsnet announced on Thursday that it will show 23 Major League Soccer regular season Whitecaps FC matches on Sportsnet Pacific, Sportsnet ONE, and City Vancouver (full broadcast details below).

Coverage kicks off with a 30-minute pre-game show on Saturday, March 9 at 4 p.m. PT on Sportsnet Pacific when Vancouver hosts Columbus Crew, live from BC Place.

Former Whitecaps FC and national team goalkeeper Paul Dolan returns for his second year as broadcast analyst, alongside play-by-play announcer Craig MacEwen, with Scott Rintoul rounding out the broadcast team as sideline reporter.

In addition to live broadcast coverage, Major League Soccer fans can stay connected to the beautiful game all season long on sportsnet.ca, including an in-depth season preview prior to the MLS season, Whitecaps FC video reports, and regular Whitecaps FC blogs from John Molinaro, Martin MacMahon, and Irfaan Gaffar. In addition, Dolan’s blog will feature a Q&A with fans, and Gaffar will hold regular Twitter Q&A sessions with Whitecaps FC players.

Sportsnetmagazine will also be featuring a special MLS season preview, including news, updates and analysis of all three Canadian teams, as well as a breakdown of the teams and players to watch from across the league. The issue will hit newsstands on Thursday, February 21.

Fans can also stay on top of the action with real-time alerts and customization features on the newly re-designed Sportsnet Mobile app.

Sportsnet connects Canadian sports fans to their favourite teams and athletes, using five platforms: TV, Radio, Print, Online and Mobile. Sportsnet is Fuelled By Fans, and delivers storytelling on a local, regional, national and global level. The multiplatform brand consists of Sportsnet, sportsnet.ca, Sportsnet 590 The FAN, Sportsnet 960 The FAN, Sportsnet magazine, Sportsnet Mobile and the Hockey Central app on iPad and Playbook. Sportsnet is the Canadian leader in NHL and MLB television broadcasts and is home to 162 Toronto Blue Jays games, plus MLB Playoffs and the World Series. Sportsnet is an official licensed broadcaster of the 2014 FIFA World Cup BrazilTM and also offers an exciting sports lineup including the NFL, the Memorial Cup, Ultimate Fighting Championship®, Grand Slam of Curling, IndyCar, the Rogers Cup tennis tournament, and extensive soccer programming including Barclays Premier League, UEFA Champions League, UFEA Europa League, MLS Vancouver Whitecaps FC, CONCACAF and Canadian national team matches for men and women. Connected is the network’s nightly news program, providing regional and national coverage of the day’s events in the world of sports.